Alveolar Microlithiasis with Mild Clinical Symptoms But Severe Imaging Findings: A Case Report

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) is a rare genetic disorder that causes calcium phosphate microliths to form in the alveoli. Symptoms usually appear in a person's third or fourth decade of life. A definitive diagnosis does not always demand a lung biopsy but can be achieved in families w...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical medicine insights. Case reports 2024, Vol.17, p.11795476241236350-11795476241236350
Main Authors: Hoseininia, Saeed, Salimi, Maryam, Salmani, Asma, Jannati, Rona, Negaresh, Mohammad
Format: Report
Language:English
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Summary:Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) is a rare genetic disorder that causes calcium phosphate microliths to form in the alveoli. Symptoms usually appear in a person's third or fourth decade of life. A definitive diagnosis does not always demand a lung biopsy but can be achieved in families with more than one member with PAM and compatible chest imaging. We present the case of a 47-year-old woman referred to us for shortness of breath. Chest imaging revealed bilateral diffuse ground-glass opacities, interlobar fissure calcification, and subpleural linear calcifications, leading to a diagnosis of PAM. Although there is no specific treatment for this condition, early diagnosis can help prevent it from progressing rapidly by avoiding exposure to risk factors.
ISSN:1179-5476
1179-5476
DOI:10.1177/11795476241236350